Front loading firing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A FRONT LOADING AUTOMATIC HIGH ANGLE FIRING APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING PROJECTILES FROM ENCLOSED POSITIONS.

P 1971 R. BRETNOR 3,608,422

FRONT LOADING FIRING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 16. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVIJNTOR.

REGINALD BRETNOR ATTORNEY Sept. 28, 1971 R. BRETNOR 3,608,422

FRONT LOADING FIRING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 16, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. REGINALD BRETNOR ATTORNEY,

Sept. 28, 1971 R. BRETNOR FRONT LOADING FIRING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet I Filed Dec. 16. 1968 INVENTOR. REGINALD BRETNOR FIG 1l ATTORNEY United States Patent Oflice 3,608,422 Patented Sept. 28, 1971 Int. Cl. F41f 1/06 US. Cl. 89-1F 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A front loading automatic high angle firing apparatus for launching projectiles from enclosed positions.

This invention relates to an apparatus useful in firing high angle projectiles such as mortar rounds or the like and more particularly this invention relates to a front loading automatic high angle projectile launching apparatus useful for launching self-contained projectiles from enclosed positions such as in armor without the need for exposure of personnel to accomplish the launching.

Heretofore, most high angle fire has been accomplished with launching devices known as mortars. These mortars comprise an elongated tube having an open end and a closed end and various support apparatus to hold the tube in elevated position. The closed end contains a firing pin and projectiles or mortar rounds are fired by manually inserting a round into the elevated open end of the tube and dropping it down the tube and against the firing pin. The round has a self-contained propellant charge and when it strikes the pin, the projectile is launched up and out of the tube. Another round can then be manually loaded.

It is apparent that the high angle launching devices heretofore available are limitedjn firing rate by the manual sequence of loading. It is also apparent that the presently available launching devices are not adapted for use with armored carriers or the like since the loading sequence required exposure of the personnel who are operating the device. There is, therefore, a need for a projectile-launching device which is capable of rapid automatic high angle fire from enclosed positions which may be fired without the need for exposing the operating personnel to small arms fire.

Briefly, the present invention is directed to apparatus for launching projectiles and includes a tubular receiver having mounting means for mounting said tubular receiver within a supporting frame means. An opening for projectiles is provided in said tubular receiver and a firing tube adapted to receive a projectile is slidably arranged within said tubular receiver. Recoil means normally extend the firing tube through the tubular receiver to close the opening in said receiver for projectiles. The firing tube includes an open end and a closed end having a firing pin operably positioned therein. The recoil means permits the tube to be retracted within the receiver to a position where at least a portion of its upper end is aligned with the opening in the receiver to permit entry of a projectile into the upper portion of the firing tube. A means is provided for feeding projectiles to the opening of the tubular receiver for insertion into the firing tube when the firing tube is retracted.

In a more specific embodiment. the present invention provides apparatus for firing self-propelling projectiles, such as mortar rounds and the like, and includes receiver means having a central opening formed therein. The receiver means is mounted by suitable mounting means on frame means. The mounting means provides for universal movement of the receiver means. A passageway is pro vided for projectiles to said central opening of said receiver means. Firing tube means having a closed end and an open end are slidably arranged for reciprocating movement within the central opening of the receiver means. The open end of the firing tube means in operating position is normally elevated above the closed end. Recoil means are connected to said firing tube means to normally extend the firing tube means to a forward position wherein the tube means closes the passageway into said opening of the receiver means to prevent entry of a projectile into the firing tube means. The recoil means are movable to permit the firing tube means to be retracted to a rearward position to permit entry of a projectile into the central opening of the receiver means and thence into the open end of the firing tube means. Loading means are provided for inserting a projectile into said firing tube means through said opening in said receiver when said firing tube means is in said retracted position.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide apparatus for repetitively firing self-propelling projectiles in a rapid and automatic manner. Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description read in light of the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, with parts broken away for clarity of presentation, of the preferred embodiment of apparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention, said apparatus being loaded and in the ready position;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, with parts broken away for clarity of presentation, of the preferred embodiment of apparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention, said apparatus being in the loading position;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, with parts broken away for clarity of presentation, of the preferred embodiment of apparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention, said apparatus being in the firing position;

FlG. 4 is section 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view, with parts broken away for clarity of presentation, and shows an alternative embodiment of aparatus assembled in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken at line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the alternative embodiment of apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view, with parts broken away for clarity of presentation, of another alternative embodiment of apparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view with parts broken away for clarity of presentation of the FIG. 8 alternative embodiment of apparatus in full recoil position;

FIG. 10 is a layout plan view of grooves formed in the firing tube and useful to actuate the loading means of the FIG. 8 alternative embodiment of apparatus;

FIG. 11 is an elevation view of still another embodiment of apparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention and illustrates means for mechanical feed of projectiles to the firing tube; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken at line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

Refer now to the drawing and to FIGS. 1-4 in particular, where the preferred embodiment of apparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the preferred embodiment of apparatus during the loading and firing sequence. The apparatus of the present invention is used for automatically firing muzzle-loading, self-propelling projectiles such as mortar rounds or the like, and is mounted on a suitable frame such as illustrated by the numeral 20. The frame 20 is, for example, preferably an armored vehicle such as a tank or the like. As will become apparent, the present invention permits the rapid sequential fire or muzzle-1oading projectiles from within the confines of armor. The advantages of mobility and personnel protection are thus gained.

A receiver means 22 is mounted on frame by suitable mounting means. It is preferred that the mounting means provide for universal movement of the receiver means 22. Thus one such suitable mounting means are formed by a ball and socket portion and comprise a ball portion 26 formed on the upper end of the receiver and a mating socket portion 28 formed on the frame. The ball portion 26 and the socket portion 28 cooperate to permit the receiver to move in a universal manner with respect to the frame. The amount of universal movement that is permitted is governed by the type of projectile used and the desired limits on angle of fire desired. Suitable aligning screws such as schematically illustrated by arrows 35 and 37 are provided to aim the receiver and the tube. The receiver is provided with a central opening 30. The central opening 30 of the receiver is adapted to slidably receive firing tube 32. A passageway for projectiles is provided into the central opening 30 of the receiver 22. For example, a longitudinal opening 34 is formed in the upper portion of the receiver. Guide means 36 for projectiles is provided and so aligned to direct projectiles to the central opening 34 of the receiver 22. The projectiles, indicated by the number 40, are arranged to sequentially enter into the inside of the receiver 22 and thence into the firing tube 32.

The firing tube 32 is normally extended to close the passageway into the central opening of the receiver 22 to the undesired entry of a projectile into the receiver and the firing tube 32. This position is illustrated in FIG. 1. As mentioned, the firing tube 32 is slidably positioned for reciprocal movement within the receiver 22 and may be retracted to permit entry of a projectile 40 into the central opening of the receiver 22 and thence into the interior of the firing tube 32. This is the loading position as illustrated in FIG. 2 where the projectile 40 has entered the firing tube 32 from where it will fall to the closed bottom end of the tube 32 from where it will be fired. Immediately after entry of the projectile 40 into the tube, the passageway 34 is closed to prevent entry of a second projectile until the first has been fired and left the tube. Thus the tube returns to firing position as illustrated in FIG. 3 as the projectile 40 falls down the tube to the firing pin 42.

The firing tube 32 is provided with a closed end and an open end. The open end is in the operating position elevated above the closed end in a manner suitable for high angle fire. A lip portion 33 is provided at the upper portion of the firing tube 32 to assist in directing projectiles from the receiver 22 into and down the firing tube 32 to the firing pin 39.

The firing tube 32 is slidably arranged for reciprocal motion within the central opening 30 of the receiver 22. Recoil means, indicated generally by the number 42 are connected between the firing tube 32 and the receiver 22. The recoil means 42 normally acts to extend the firing tube 32 to a forward position wherein the tube 32 closes the passageway 34 for projectiles into the central opening 30 of the reeciver. The position of the firing tube 22 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The recoil means 42 is movable to permit the firing tube 32 to be retracted to a rearward position as shown in FIG. 2 to align the open lid portion 33 of the firing tube 32 with the passageway through the receiver 22 to permit entry of a projectile 40 into the firing tube 32. The recoil means 42 is adjusted so as to return the tube 32 to firing position as shown in FIG. 3 before the projectile 40 is fired from the tube. Thus the tube 32 returns to a full forward or extended position before the projectile 40 falls to and is detonated or activated by firing pin 39.

The recoil means 42 are formed of conventional equipment and may include springs, bumpers, or pneumatic or hydraulic cushions. A combination of the above-mentioned equipment may be used. Depending on many factors,

such as caliber and the desired rate of fire, the recoil means 42 may take different forms. As noted, however, the recoil means 42 are adapted to permit the tube 32 to recoil after a projectile has been fired to a position which will allow entry of another projectile into the tube 32. The recoil means 42 then returns the tube 32 to the forward extended fire position before the second projectile falls to the firing pin and is detonated. As noted, the recoil means 42 may use various types of cushioning means. The recoil means of the preferred embodiment includes a chamber 41 which houses the cushioning means and is fixedly connected to the receiver 22, a rod means 43 operably connected to the cushioning means, and a connecting means 45 for fixedly connecting the rod means 43 to the firing tube 32.

Since it may be desirable to initiate fire by mechanically or manually retracting the firing tube 32 to a position to permit entry of a projectile into the tube 32, the recoil means 42 are such that the tube 32 may relatively easily be retracted at a relatively slow rate while being relatively difficult to retract rapidly. Thus by means of hydraulic recoil means utilizing flow through orifices to control deceleration the reaction of the tube when a projectile has been fired can be adequately controlled while at the same time no great force is required to relatively slowly move the tube back manually or mechanically to the load position illustrated in FIG. 2. Thus firing can be manually initiated by withdrawing the tube 32 and allowing a projectile 40 to enter the tube. When the projectile has entered the tube the recoil means takes over to return the tube 32 to the firing position before the projectile is detonated at the bottom of the tube. Suitable means, such as handle 44 on tube 32, are provided to mechanically or manually withdraw the tube 32 to allow a projectile to enter it and thus initiate fire.

The loading means for inserting a projectile into the firing tube means 32 from the receiver may take a variety of forms. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, a plurality of projectiles such as projectile 40 are arranged for gravity feed into the firing tube 32. The receiver 22 includes a projectile feed housing such as guide means 36 located above the passageway 34 into the central opening 30 of the receiver 22. The projectiles are stacked in the housing. As the firing tube 32 moves to a load position a projectile will be inserted into the firing tube from where it may fall down the tube 32 to the firing pin 39. As the projectile is fired from the tube, the tube moves rearwardly to a posi tion limited by the recoil means 42 and again aligns the lip portion 33 of the open end of the tube with the receiver passageway 34 to permit entry of a projectile. This firing sequence goes on until it is desired to stop the fire. At such time the supply of projectiles is cut otf. This may be done, for example, by inserting arm 46 into the passageway 34 to cut off the supply of projectiles to the firing tube 32.

Refer now to FIGS. 5-7 where an alternative embodiment of apparatus assembled in accordance with the invention, is shown. A receiver 60 is mounted by suitable means such as mounting means 62 to a frame member 64. A firing tube 66 is slidably mounted with the receiver 60. A passageway for projectiles is provided through the receiver 60 and into the firing tube 66 when the firing tube 66 is in the full recoil position. The lip 61 of the tube 66 assists in directing the projectile into the interior of the tube 66. A recoil means 68 is provided to control the recoil of firing tube 66. The recoil means 68 includes a barrel portion 63 which is fixedly connected to the receiver and contains the cushioning means. A shaft 65 which is inserted into the barrel portion 63 and which is operably connected to the cushioning means is fixedly connected by suitable means 67 to the firing tube 66 to absorb energy therefrom.

The alternative embodiment of apparatus of FIGS. 5-7 is provided with positive mechanical loading means to assure that only one projectile at a time is inserted into the firing tube at the proper interval during the firing sequence. The projectiles 69 are directed to a position immediately adjacent the firing tube 66 by guide means 70. The position immediately adjacent the firing tube is occupied by a loading cylinder 72. The loading cylinder 72 is adapted to releasably hold one projectile, such as projectile 71, for delivery through the opening in the receiver 60 into the firing tube 66. The loading cylinder 72 is adapted to insert the projectile into the firing tube at a predetermined time in the firing sequence and to prevent other projectiles from partially entering or blocking the passageway through the receiver to prevent jamming or misfiring of the apparatus.

The loading cylinder 72 is provided with actuating means for causing the cylinder 72 to place the projectile 71 into the inside of the firing tube 66. As shown in FIGS. -7 the loading cylinder 72 is rotatably mounted in the guide means 70. Thus cylinder 72 is fixedly connected to shafts 74 and 76. The shafts 74 and 76 are rotatably journalled in bearings 78, 80 and 82. The loading cylinder 72 may be rotated through at least 180 from the position illustrated in FIG. 5 to drop a projectile into the firing tube at a precise interval in the firing sequence. The rotation of the loading cylinder is provided by activating means which include an actuating stud 84 carried on the firing tube 66 and engaged in groove means 77 cut in shaft 74. The actuating stud 84 is connected to the fin'ng tube 66 in a sliding ring guide 88. The ring guide 88 is adapted to slide along shaft 74 as the firing tube is retracted. As the ring guide 88 and the activating stud 84 are moved along the rotatably mounted shaft 74, the cooperation between the stud 84 and the groove means 77 causes the shaft and thus the loading cylinder to be rotated.

Thus in the firing sequence the apparatus is initially in the position illustrated in FIG. 5 just at the instant that a projectile is initially activated at the bottom of the firing tube 66. The projectile rapidly leaves the firing tube 66. Expanding gases cause the firing tube 66 to recoil. Such recoil is controlled by the recoil means 68. As the firing tube 66 recoils it moves down the receiver carrying the sliding ring guide 88 containing actuating stud 84 along the rotatable shaft 74. The actuating stud 84 travels in the groove means 77 cut in shaft 74 and turns the shaft 74 accordingly. Thus at full recoil the cooperation of the stud 84 acting in the groove means 77 rotates the loading cylinder 72 180 so that a projectile is dropped into the firing tube 66. As the tube is moved forward to the fully extended firing position (which occurs prior to the time that the projectile is fired) the stud 84 travels in the groove means 77 to rotate the loading cylinder 72 to a position to receive another projectile. The projectile which had been previously inserted into the tube is fired and the sequence is repeated.

Refer to FIGS. 8 to where still another alternative embodiment of apparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention is shown. In this alternative embodiment, a firing tube 106 is rotated during the firing sequence to insure trouble-free operation of the weapon. More particularly, the firing tube 106 is rotated to insure positive loading of only a single projectile into the firing tube during the loading sequence. Thus a receiver 100 is mounted on a frame 102 by suitable mounting means 104. The firing tube 106 is slidably and rotatably mounted within the central opening of the receiver 100. Recoil means 108 are connected to the firing tube 106 by means of recoil collar 110 located behind ridge 112 of the firing tube 106. The extending arm 107 of recoil collar 110 is connected to the cushion means located within the barrel 109 of recoil means 108. Thus the firing tube 106 can be rotated within the recoil collar 110 and the receiver 100.

Projectiles such as projectile 114 are directed to the receiver 100 by guide means 116. The firing tube 106 has an upper lip portion 118 which is rotated into the position illustrated in FIG. 9 to receive the projectile when the firing tube is in the recoil or loading position. To accomplish such rotation the receiver is provided with an actuating stud 120 which fits into the groove means cut in the firing tube 106. Such groove means are illustrated in layout in FIG. 10. The groove means 120 are cut in a manner to cooperate with stud 120 to provide the desired rotation of the tube 106 during the firing sequence. Thus when the tube 106 is in full recoil (loading position) it has been rotated 180 as shown in FIG. 10 to permit a projectile 114 to enter the firing tube. As the tube moves forward toward firing position, it is immediately at least partially rotated to prevent possible partial entry of another projectile which could jam the apparatus. As the tube 106 returns to the full forward firing position it is rotated to its original position and is ready for firing of the projectile.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate still another alternative embodiment of apparatus illustrated in accordance with the present invention. This embodiment is particularly characterized by positive mechanical loading means. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 a firing tube is positioned inside a receiver means 152. The receiver means 152 is mounted to a frame 154 by suitable mounting means 156. Recoil means 158 are connected to the receiver means 152 and the firing tube 150 to control recoil. An opening 160 is provided in the receiver means 152 for the entry of pro jectiles therein. The firing tube 150 is retracted to a position where the end of the tube 150 is below the opening of the receiver means 152 to permit the projectile to enter the tube 150 from the receiver means 152.

The projectiles, such as projectile 164, are moved to the opening 160 in the receiver means 152 by positive mechanical means. Thus a movable belt 168 is provided with means such as lugs for positively holding each of the projectiles. The movable belt 168 is arranged to bring a projectile 164 to the opening 160 of the receiver means 152 each time the tube 150 is retracted to accept a projectile. Positive loading of the projectiles is thus assured. Interruption of the firing sequence is accomplished by stopping the belt 168 to prevent loading of another projectile into the firing tube.

Although a number of specific embodiments of apparatus have been described herein, the invention is not to be limited to such specific embodiments but rather the invention is meant to include all equivalents coming with in the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for firing projectiles comprising receiver means having a central opening formed therein; frame means; mounting means for mounting said receiver means on said frame means; passageway means for projectiles into said central opening of said receiver means; firing tube means having a closed end and an open end slidably arranged for reciprocal motion within said central opening of said receiver means, said firing tube means having its open end elevated and positioned above its closed end; recoil means connected to said firing tube means and to said receiver means normally extending said firing tube means to a forward position wherein said firing tube means closes said passageway into said central opening of said receiver means to prevent entry of a projectile into said firing tube means, said recoil means being movable to permit said firing tube means to be retracted to a rearward position opening said passageway into said central opening of said receiver means to permit entry of a projectile into the open end of said firing tube means; and loading means for inserting a projectile into said firing tube means through said central opening in said receiver means when said firing tube means is in said retracted position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the passageway for projectiles into the central opening of said receiver means includes an opening in said receiver means and that the open end of said firing tube means is retractable to below said opening to permit entry of projectiles into said firing tube means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the loading means includes a loading cylinder adapted to hold one projectile rotatably positioned adjacent said opening and actuating means for rotating said loading cylinder to place a projectile into said tube means when said tube means is retracted.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the mounting means permits universal movement of said receiver means and said firing tube means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that a firnig pin is positioned in the closed end of said firing tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the recoil means is connected between said receiver means and said firing tube means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized by manual means for moving said firing tube to said rearward retracted position to permit entry of a projectile into said firing tube means.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the said loading means includes gravity feed of the projectiles through said passageway into said firing tube means.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said firing tube means is rotatable within said receiver means and that said tube means is rotated through a predetermined sequence during reciprocation of said tube means to permit entry of a projectile into said tube means only when said tube means is fully retracted.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further characterized in that said rotation is guided by means of groove means in said tube means being engaged by a stud means on said receiver means.

11. A method of firing projectiles comprising retracting a firing tube having an open end and a closed end and inserting a projectile into the forward portion of said retracted tube near the open end thereof, returning said retracted tube to an extended position and causing said projectile to fall to the closed end of said tube, firing said projectile from said tube to recoil said tube to a retracted position, automatically inserting a second projectile into the forward portion of said retracted tube near the open end thereof, returning said tube to an extended position and causing said second projectile to fall to the closed end of said tube and firing said second projectile from said tube.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,034,750 8/1912 Whittier 89-164 1,337,444 4/1920 Douglas 89-l5l 2,456,812 12/1948 Blacker 89l.80l

SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

